Ballet.co October 2008 Magazine

Ballet.co at the...

Place Prize 2008 Preview

Semi-Final 1, Semi-Final 2, Semi-Final 3, Semi-Final 4

Press Release: Finalists Announced

Finals

Pres Release:
Winner Announced - Adam Linder

Graham Watts at the Final Performance and Winners Announcement

'Place Prize 2008: Final Performance: Graham Watts

"Both he (Linder) and Lorena Randi are excellent dancers and their performances, although deliberately clichéd, are powerful. But, I remain of the view that this was the poorest constructed piece in the Final by some margin..."

Finals
2 Views of 5 pieces...

Aletta Collins

'Place Prize 2008: Lap Dancer': Graham Watts

"Whatever the reason, Aletta Collins' 'Lap Dancer' just didn't have the same spark as the performance which wowed the audience ...in the semi-finals."

'Place Prize 2008: Lap Dancer': Emma Stevenson

"Whilst this sensory overload was effective initially, the pace and voice overs got too much and I personally became dulled to them after a while."

Adam Linder

'Place Prize 2008: Foie Gras': Emma Stevenson

"Unfortunately, the ending was an unsatisying fade-out, losing the energy they had worked so hard to maintain throughout."

'Place Prize 2008: Foie Gras': Graham Watts

"It isn't a complete or satisfying work and I particularly disliked the way it simply peters out."

Simon Ellis

'Place Prize 2008: Gertrud': Graham Watts

"...a subliminal theme about dance as a proxy for life, rather than a dance work, but it is undoubtedly a piece of physical theatre that deserves its place in this Final."

'Place Prize 2008: Gertrud': Emma Stevenson

"Profound themes around death and identity were reflected upon but by the end I was left with a feeling of dissatisfaction."

Anna Williams

'Place Prize 2008: Clearing': Emma Stevenson

"The choreography and connection between Petra Soor and Hannah Shepherd was beautiful, but I couldn't help thinking that the piece would have been greatly enhanced with more effective lighting."

'Place Prize 2008: Clearing': Graham Watts

"...grew on me more than it had the first time and it enjoys engaging performances from Petra Soor and Hannah Shepherd, both relative newcomers at this level."

Dam Van Huynh

'Place Prize 2008: Collision': Graham Watts

"I was disappointed ...it suffered on a second viewing, although it was the overwhelming winner of the audience vote on the night..."

'Place Prize 2008: Collision': Emma Stevenson

"Finally, the night ended with Dam Van Huynh's 'Collision' which really took the night to a whole new level. .... This professional piece was engaging and entertaining from start to end..."

Semi-Final 1

Aletta Collins

'Place Prize 2008: Lap Dancer': Graham Watts

"The audience's favourite ...a witty and inventive solo for the charismatic Rachel Krische."

Saiko Kino

'Place Prize 2008: Ichi': Graham Watts

"For me, this was pretty much the perfect article."

Simon Ellis

'Place Prize 2008: Gertrud': Graham Watts

"I liked its subtlety and thoughtfulness but it was clearly much more Turner Prize than X Factor..."

Chisato Minamimura

'Place Prize 2008: The Canon for Duet': Graham Watts

"...but the movement was often over-powered by other imagery."

Robin Dingemans

'Place Prize 2008: Very': Graham Watts

"There was certainly much writhing, wrestling and lifting, copious dry ice and flailing arms but I felt that much of it was cliched..."

Semi-Final 2

Temitope Ajose-Cutting

'Place Prize 2008: Whispers': Graham Watts

"...just didn't say anything very memorable to me."

Adam Linder

'Place Prize 2008: Foie Gras': Graham Watts

"It was clearly intended to parody current celebrity and popular icons (fashion, entertainment etc) but it all added up to lots of crazy images not equating to much meaningful interest or entertainment."

Colin Poole

'Place Prize 2008: Snap': Graham Watts

"He is certainly a great talent but this did it no justice at all."

Anna Williams

'Place Prize 2008: Clearing': Graham Watts

"The simple honesty of some pure, unadorned dance, albeit to an instantly forgettable soundtrack, was at least refreshing..."

Victoria Fox

'Place Prize 2008: Human Shadows': Graham Watts

"It said a lot and 'Human Shadows' is certainly the only one of these works that might just merit a place in the Final."

Semi-Final 3

Darren Johnston

'Place Prize 2008: Multiple': Graham Watts

"...a work that I felt - apparently alone - integrated its many elements with cohesive aplomb."

Dam Van Huynh

'Place Prize 2008: Collision': Graham Watts

"It is certainly the best of the pure dance work we have seen to date and ought to be a shoe-in for the Final on that basis alone."

Bettina Strickler

'Place Prize 2008: Where the Light was Less': Graham Watts

"Although it promised great potential as an intriguing merger of all its elements, the overall impact fell short of these expectations."

Philline Janssens

'Place Prize 2008: RSVP': Graham Watts

"...a charismatic performance by Anthony Missen, uncannily accurate in his portrayal of an alert four-legged animal nervously aware of the imminent danger of potential predators."

Kyoung-Shin Kim

'Place Prize 2008: Oblivion': Graham Watts

"This was a strong work with some striking visual imagery..."

Semi-Final 4

Chartotte Eatock and Rachael Mossom

'Place Prize 2008: Shorts': Emma Stevenson

"The movement came second to the voice-overs which is a shame when working with such talent."

Jelka Milic

'Place Prize 2008: Saffron Authority': Emma Stevenson

"The end finally came as the taped up girls continued their torture standing on their heads with a bunch of roses sticking up out of their behinds. I was just glad it was over."

Mickael Marso Riviere

'Place Prize 2008: Breaking Point': Emma Stevenson

"...there was a feeling that it didn't quite come together at the end. Still with stamping feet applause, the crowd was satisfied having finally being given something worthwhile."

Jose Luis Vidal

'Place Prize 2008: The Kiss': Emma Stevenson

"...colourful and visually interesting at its best and frustrating at its worst."

Ben Wright

'Place Prize 2008: this moment is your life': Emma Stevenson

"I couldn't help but experience the same disappointment I feel at short film festivals when the showy comedy wins over the higher quality, well-thought out drama simply because it's an easy crowd pleaser."